WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- A medical examiner has confirmed the discovery of a body buried in a yard off Cowan Street as Latricia Ana Scott. Now the murder victim's family is speaking out.

"I had a bad feeling that something happened to my daughter because she'll never not call. She'll call me," said Linda Scott, Latricia's mother.

Tuesday night 24-year-old Latricia did not return home from her class at Cape Fear Community College. Sensing something was wrong, Linda Scott called police the next day.

Latricia's family members say they heard on the streets that she had been spending time with 55-year-old Andrew Bernard Adams. According to police, Adams has a criminal record that dates back decades, including rape, assault and trying to escape from jail.

"He started popping up at my sister's school and coming around her house," said Latricia's sister, Shanita Bullock. "I caught him peeking in my window Christmas night and I went up stairs and I told my daddy."

Latricia's family also says that they heard Adams was waiting on her at CFCC when her class ended Tuesday. After that they argued all the way back to her house where neighbors say they heard a scream.

"I'm wondering why nobody could call the police or something," said Jacqueline Mckoy, Latricia's cousin. "I mean everybody knows this child. This child has never messed with nobody, and I mean nobody."

Latricia's family says they knew of Adams and that he was a registered sex offender but say what happened is worse than they could have ever imagined.

Friday, Wilmington Police found Latricia's body buried in Adams' yard. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.

"That's my daughter, I'm going to miss her," said Linda Scott. "I cry every night and I cry every day but I want that man punished. I don't want him to walk the streets no more. He'll do somebody else's child like that."

Neighbors say parts of her body were buried in different sections of the yard.

Latricia's famly says they suspected Adams from the beginning and even had a phone conversation with him.

"He said he had some work to do and clean up the back yard," said Linda Scott.

Adams was arrested Friday night after a standoff with Wilmington Police and charged with first degree murder in Latricia's death.

Latricia Scott is survived by her two children.

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